Current in theaters ad shattering records is the #1 film ‘Us,’ written and directed by Academy Award winner Jordan Peele and starring Lupita Nyong’o, Winston Duke, Shahadi Wright Joseph, Evan Alex, Elisabeth Moss, Tim Heidecker, Cali Sheldon, Noelle Sheldon,Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Anna Diop, and Madison Curry.
Set in present day along the iconic Northern California coastline, Us, from Monkeypaw Productions, stars Oscar® winner Lupita Nyong’o as Adelaide Wilson, a woman returning to her beachside childhood home with her husband, Gabe (Black Panther’s Winston Duke), and their two children (Shahadi Wright Joseph, Evan Alex) for an idyllic summer getaway.
Haunted by an unexplainable and unresolved trauma from her past and compounded by a string of eerie coincidences, Adelaide feels her paranoia elevate to high-alert as she grows increasingly certain that something bad is going to befall her family.
After spending a tense beach day with their friends, the Tylers (Emmy winner Elisabeth Moss, Tim Heidecker, Cali Sheldon, Noelle Sheldon), Adelaide and her family return to their vacation home. When darkness falls, the Wilsons discover the silhouette of four figures holding hands as they stand in the driveway. Us pits an endearing American family against a terrifying and uncanny opponent: doppelgängers of themselves.
For Shahadi Wright Joseph, who plays Adelaide’s daughter Zora, this is her big screen debut. Last seen playing Inez Stubbs in NBC’s Hairspray Live! in 2016, the 13 year-old will also be voicing the character of young Nala in director Jon Favreau’s live action version of The Lion King. Ironically, she played the role on Broadway when she was 9.
Blackfilm.com recently spoke with Joseph regarding her role in the horror thriller.
How did the role come about for you?
Shahadi Wright Joseph: Basically, I sent in a self tape and a few weeks later my agent called me and said that Jordan wanted to meet me in LA. They flew me out and that’s actually where I met Evan and we had a little chemistry read. We just bonded as soon as we met. It was really great. It was so nice to meet Jordan.
Did you know the film would be a horror film?
Shahadi Wright Joseph: I did because the sides were really eerie and sort of gory. I knew that this was definitely out of my comfort zone but it’s actually a lot of fun. It was groundbreaking to work with Jordan just for that short amount of time.
Was this something you and your parents agreed to?
Shahadi Wright Joseph: Yeah. Definitely. I think we could tell because it was Jordan Peele film, it sort reminded me of Get Out a little bit. We thought it would be cool to be in his film. My dad took me to see Get Out two years ago after I saw the trailer.
How would you describe your character?
Shahadi Wright Joseph: Zora is a teen who is so into her phone, and anti-social with her family but also embarrassed of her parents. She has a younger brother named Jason, who always gets on her nerves, but ultimately she still loves her family.
How was working with Lupita and Winston?
Shahadi Wright Joseph: It was great working with them. I was such a huge fan of them before this film. Lupita is a huge inspiration to me and it was great working with her. She’s so sweet and I think we’re a real family now.
With the action scenes in the film, did you have to work out?
Shahadi Wright Joseph: Yeah. My dad and I ran for a couple of days straight and I was just practicing my running scenes and just preparing to be an athlete. We would work out in the gym everyday as well. It really prepared us for the athletic stuff in the film.
Besides Get Out, what other horror films have you seen?
Shahadi Wright Joseph: I love The Shining, The Babadook and I love Get Out.
Is there anything you would be afraid of?
Shahadi Wright Joseph: Rats, and it’s so ironic because I live in New York City and that’s like the home for rats. I think it just grosses me out so much.
Is this a film you would recommend to your friends?
Shahadi Wright Joseph: Definitely. I feel that if I wasn’t in the film, I would watch this film like a hundred times.
You also have The Lion King coming out this year as well. How was working on that film?
Shahadi Wright Joseph: I was really familiar with the role already but it was also very exciting because Jon Favreau gave us a lot of freedom to change things around about the character. It was great working with JD McCrary, who plays young Simba. We had the best time working on that film.
Did you get to meet Beyonce?
Shahadi Wright Joseph: No, unfortunately I did not. We’ll definitely meet in the future so I’m looking forward to that.
With Us being your first big role on the big screen, is this something that you want to continue to do?
Shahadi Wright Joseph: I definitely want to explore different genres and explore my range as an actor. I’ll just see where the wind takes me and keep going at it.
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